OCR News Weekly

This week, European Obstacle Course Race Associations come together to form the European Obstacle Sports Federation, Spartan Ultimate Team Challenge brings on new announcers for Season 2, Wolfpack Ninjas Announce new Emcee, and the International Obstacle Course Racing Union puts a call out to all obstacle racers.

Welcome to OCR News Weekly

This week, European Obstacle Course Race Associations come together to form the European Obstacle Sports Federation, Spartan Ultimate Team Challenge brings on new announcers for Season 2, Wolfpack Ninjas Announce new Emcee, and the International Obstacle Course Racing Union puts a call out to all obstacle racers.

Today is Thursday, April 13, 2017 – I’m Margaret Schlachter and this is OCR News Weekly brought to you by Mud Run Guide.

This week’s episode is brought to you by Spartan Race. Use code MUDRUNGUIDE15 for 15% off your next Spartan Race registration.

Out top story this week comes From Europe.

Over the weekend, several Obstacle Course Racing Associations from around Europe came together to meet in Sardinia to form the European Obstacle Sports Federation. This is the beginning of establishing a European sports governing body for OCR and related sports. During the meeting, a constitution was drafted and signed by eight associations. This marks the first official federation for Europe bringing together many of the national associations to form a greater alliance and federation for all of Europe.

The aim of this summit was to discuss the formal establishment of a European sport governing body for Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) & related sports. Over the course of the summit, numerous topics were discussed with all parties given equal say to ensure no idea was overlooked. At the conclusion of the summit, a formal constitution was drafted & signed by representatives from the National OCRA boards of Danish Obstacle Course Racers Association, OCR France, OCR Association Ireland, Italian OCR Federation, OCRA Benelux (Netherlands), OCR Polska & OCRA Slovakia with OCRA España voting agreement by electronic communication.

Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge

NBC’s “Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge” set its announcing crew for its upcoming eight-episode second season. Hailing from the producers of the Emmy Award-nominated competition series “American Ninja Warrior,” the series raises the bar on obstacle course racing and ups the ante for teams whose will and determination will be pushed to the limits as they strive to come out on top. The second season begins Monday, June 12 at 10 p.m., following a two-hour edition of “American Ninja Warrior.”

Decorated U.S. Winter Olympian Apolo Ohno and ESPN and radio personality Kelvin Washington will deliver the play by play action to audiences as the teams race through the demanding course. MJ Acosta returns as a sideline reporter alongside Major League Baseball all-star Nick Swisher, who joins “Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge” following a 12-season career that included a World Series championship with the New York Yankees.

Wolfpack Ninja Tour

Wolfpack Ninja Tour added another familiar face to the all-star lineup this week for the upcoming The Wolfpack Ninja Tour at the end of the month in Denver, Colorado. Evan Dollard, longtime ninja athlete, Spartan Ultimate Team Challenge Season 1 commentator, and founder of Ninja Quickie will be acting as Emcee for the event. Evan sat down with Mud Run Guide to talk about the upcoming event, offering advice and what he is most looking forward to at the event.

IOCRU

Is OCR a Sovereign Sport? This week the International Obstacle Course Racing Union. A union of athletes within the obstacle racing industry sent out a questionnaire for all of the industry to weigh in. From the article and survey:

Recently, numerous pre-existing sports and governing bodies have expressed an interest in Obstacle Course Racing. This should come as no surprise give the significant growth of OCR and media attention. However, some community members have noted concerns that these organizations are making a “claim” to OCR as a way of enhancing or rejuvenating their current sport in response to a rapidly changing sporting landscape without properly understanding it. Conversely, affiliating with an established sport may help OCR grow even further beyond its current market.

So, as an independent community organization, we are looking for your voice and feedback. Should Obstacle Course Racing be its own sovereign (independent) sport? Or should it fall under the umbrella of an existing sport (e.g. pentathlon, track & field, etc.)?

People can share their thoughts on the IOCRU website.

RESULTS:

Spartan Race Charlotte, North Carolina

Savage Race Carolinas

Warrior Dash SoCal

This weekend, Green Beret Challenge is taking place in Georgia, Warrior Dash also heads to Georgia, and Rugged Maniac heads to Arizona. Over in Europe Toughest will hold an event in Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

For all the race listings this weekend check out the race calendar on Mud Run Guide.

Those are your headlines this week from around the obstacle racing world.

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Margaret is Editor-in-Chief of Mud Run Guide. She has been part of the OCR Community since 2010. When not working on the next article she can be found running from race-to-race as a competitor.She founded DirtinYourSkirt.com, an OCR community for women as well as former contributing editor for Mud and Obstacle Magazine and industry expert for About.com. She authored the book Obstacle Race Training.

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Mud Run Guide

Welcome to Mud Run Guide - the worldwide leader in mud runs, obstacle course races, and outdoor running adventures. Established in 2012, our focus is to provide you with the best events, discounts, news, reviews, gear, and training for the sport of OCR.